This term our topic is “Movers and Shakers”. Throughout this topic, we will learn about significant people from the past and how they have changed the views of people in the modern day.
Other helpful documents
Coastline Optional Home Learning Tasks
(Please refer to the Downloadable Resources Page for PDF copies of all highlighted/underlined documents)
Although this topic is mainly historical, we will look at several historical landmarks and places as well as their significance in history and in the present day.
This project teaches children about historically significant people who have had a major impact on the world. They will learn to use timelines, stories and historical sources to find out about the people featured and use historical models to explore their significance. Significant people we will learn about are: Rosa Parks; Henry VIII, Martin Luther King; Neil Armstrong and many more.
Reading
Our Class Text and Comprehension
Over the course of both terms, we will be exploring and reading “Little People, Big Dreams: Rosa Parks” and “Little People, Big Dreams: Treasuries”. Both of these books cover the lives of Rosa Parks and other significant people. Rosa Parks takes us through a fictional story based on her real life.
In term 2 we will look at Christmas texts including poems to aid our key stage Nativity.
Independent Reading
In class, we will continue to use the Accelerated Reader program. For further information about this, please view a Parent's Guide to Accelerated Reader. (https://help.renlearn.co.uk/AR/ARParentGuide) If you need your child's AR password, please contact me (Miss Lett).
Writing
Over the course of the term, we will be writing: biographies; newspaper reports; persuasive posters; and speeches. These pieces of writing are all non-fiction and we will be using factual information to create these.
Biographies are always a good start to a new year as this really helps children focus on capital letters for important headings. Biographies about significant individuals will help children understand what factual means and how we can use it in our writing.
After writing a biography, we will write a newspaper report. Again, like biographies, factual information is used and highlighting where capital letters and full stops go will be key.
Furthermore, we will be writing persuasive posters. This will cover learning new language about how we persuade in our writing and children will learn a new range of writing techniques including a question mark for rhetorical questions.
We will produce a speech based on a famous, historical individual and their movement in history.
For more information, check out our sequential writing document.
Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
Punctuation
This term we will practise and embed how to use full stops and capital letters accurately. We will also try some question marks and how we use them for different purposes. Alongside these two important pieces of punctuation, we will continually read aloud our work to ensure they make sense and understand what we need to punctuate the sentences with.
Grammar
Over the next two terms, we will look at nouns and which ones may require capital letter. Once children have a secure knowledge of nouns, we will look at noun phrases and how we can use these in our writing. Children will learn about the four different sentence types (statements, commands, questions and exclamations) and how we use the correct punctuation for those sentence types. We will look at present and past tense and how we use the correct tense correctly in our writing.
Spellings
During our spelling lessons this term, we will look at -ing and -ed words which links to our tense grammar lessons. Linking to our phonics work, we will look at a variety of diagraphs and trigraphs to help aid our phonics knowledge.
In addition to these weekly spelling rules, we will continue to learn and spell words from the Year 2 spelling list. For an overview of these spellings, please view the Spelling word list for Year 2
Following the White Rose Maths scheme, Year 2 will cover two main blocks of learning over the course of the spring term: number (place value and addition and subtraction);and geometry (shape). As part of the White Rose Maths scheme, each block is broken down into a series of small learning steps. Combined, these small learning steps then cover all the curriculum content your child needs to know in small related chunks.
This term’s small learning steps for each block
| Maths area of learning | Block | Small Learning Steps |
| Number | Place Value | Numbers to 20; counting to 100; recognise tens and ones; partition numbers to 100; use a place value chart; write numbers as words; tens and ones on a number line; estimate numbers on a number line; compare objects; and compare numbers. |
| Number | Addition and subtraction | Bonds to 10; fact families; using related facts; bonds to 100; add and subtract 1s; add by making 10; add three 1 digit numbers; add to the next 10; add across a 10; subtract across 10; subtract from a 10; subtract a 1 digit number from a 2 digit number; subtract 2 digit numbers from a 2 digit number; add two 2 digit numbers; mixed addition and subtraction; compare number sentences; and missing number problems. |
| Geometry | Shape | Recognise 2d and 3d shapes, count sides on 2d shapes, count vertices on 2d shapes; draw 2d shapes; lines of symmetry; sort 2d shapes; count faces on 3d shapes; count edges on 3d shapes; sort 3d shapes; and make patterns with shapes. |
One of the most important things for your child to have mastered and maintain is their knowledge of times tables.
In term 1 our topic is “Human Survival”. Throughout this topic we will find out about human life and how we live.
Uses of Materials Lesson Overview
| Lesson | Learning focus |
| 1 | Human life cycle |
| 2 | Human needs |
| 3 | Healthy lifestyle |
| 4 | Bodily hygiene |
| 5 | Handwashing |
| 6 | How germs spread |
In term 2 our topic is “Habitats”. Throughout this topic we will learn about habitats and what a habitat needs to provide. Children will explore local habitats to identify and name living things and begin to understand how they depend on one another for food and shelter.
| Lesson | Learning focus |
| 1 | Exploring habitats |
| 2 | Living and non-living things |
| 3 | Identifying animals and plants |
| 4 | Animal shelter |
| 5 | Food chains |
| 6 | Animal adaptations |
| 7 | Camouflage experiment |
To find out more, view our Knowledge Organiser, Glossary and Vocabulary Mat.
Art: Mix It and Still Life
Our first art topic for term 1 is “Mix it”. Throughout this topic, children will learn all about the foundations of colour and mixing colours.
Our second art topic for term 1 is “Still life”. This project involves teaching children how to use a variety of sketching, drawing and shading techniques when creating their own artwork on an inanimate object.
To find out more, view our two Knowledge Organiser.
Design and Technology: Remarkable Recipes
Alongside art, this term we are lucky enough to have DT. This project teaches children about sources of food and tools used for food preparation. They also discover why some foods are cooked and learn to read a simple recipe. The children choose and make a new school meal that fulfils specific design criteria.
To find out more, view our Knowledge Organiser.
Coding
In term 1 we are looking at coding. Coding is essentially giving a machine an action which it should perform.
We will be covering the following:
- Algorithms
- Collision detection
- Timer/ objects/ buttons.
To find out more, view our Knowledge Organiser.
Online Safety
In term 2 we are learning about how to stay safe online. This will include what information is safe to share online; email communication and what a digital footprint is.
To find out more, view our Knowledge Organiser.
Term 1: Hinduism - Navratri
Navratri is celebrated for nine nights and 10 days. Hindus worship a different form of the mother goddess Durga every day, including Lakshmi (the goddess of good fortune and wealth) and Saraswati (the goddess of wisdom). Navratri is a time for new, colourful clothes, good food, dancing and families. However, it is also a time to fast, worship the goddesses quietly and take part in puja ceremonies every day. Navratri is also celebrated as a harvest festival. Many Hindus plant nine different grains at the beginning of the festival to celebrate a good harvest. We will be learning about all of these elements in Navratri festivals.
Term 2: Christianity – Christmas
Christmas is a Christian festival that marks the birth of Jesus Christ, over 2000 years ago. It is celebrated by billions of people around the world. We will be learning about the new baby visit; exploring joy; Christmas celebrations; and advent.
Term 1: Being Me in my World
In this Puzzle, the child will explore new beginnings having just joined their new classes. They will discuss things that are coming up in the year ahead and any fears they may have. Children will learn about different roles and responsibilities as well as different rewards and consequences they my face in life.
Term 2: Celebrating Difference.
In this unit, children will learn how to understand differences between themselves and others. They will explore how differences aren’t just physical but also through people’s thoughts and values in life. Children will be taught how to accept other’s views and that everyone is equal in society.
To Find out more, view our Jigsaw knowledge and skills progression: Being Me In My World - Ages 6-7
Following the GetSet4PE scheme of learning, our Physical Education (PE) lessons for term 1 and 2 will focus on: health related fitness, invasion, and sports hall activities. Children will wear their PE kit into school on the days they have PE.
Health Related Fitness
Health Related Fitness (known as HRF), is a PE unit that does not require many resources. It focuses heavily on cardiovascular endurance; muscular endurance; muscular strength; flexibility; and body composition. These skills are all key in other areas of physical education, so having a whole unit on it is fantastic as it supports other areas of PE throughout the year.
Invasion
Pupils develop their understanding of invasion games and the principles of defending and attacking. They use and develop skills such as sending and receiving with both feet and hands, as well as dribbling with both feet and hands. They have the opportunity to play uneven and even sided games. They learn how to score points in these types of games and learn to play to the rules. We will apply these skills to netball for this term.
Sports Hall Activities
For rainier days, using the sports hall is perfect! We will use a range of equipment to help aid with various elements of physical education such as agility; speed; strength; and balance. Many different apparatus and pieces of PE equipment can be used for these lessons.
To Find out more, view our Physical Education knowledge Organiser
Term 1: How Does Music Help Us to Make Friends?
In term 1, we will be learning all about pulse, rhythm and pitch. Music has a pulse, a steady beat. Music is also made up of long and short and high and low sounds, called ‘rhythm’ and ‘pitch’. These elements combine when we sing and play. As you listen to, sing, play and dance to the music in this unit, explore these elements of music and how they work together. These musical elements will be explored through using our voices, bodies and musical instruments.
Term 2: How Does Music Teach Us About the Past?
In term 2, we will be looking at playing together. Children will learn about orchestras and the importance of listening to one another to create an amazing piece of music. We will look at how working together as a class can create something just as good and if not better than working alone!
Following the Charanga Musical School scheme of learning, these units are organised into 3 main parts:
- Listen and Appraise the songs.
- Musical Activities - learn and/or build on our knowledge and understanding about the interrelated dimensions of music.
- Perform the Song - perform and share our learning as we progress through the unit of work.
To Find out more, view our Charanga Music Knowledge Organiser Year 2